How many insomniacs does it take to screw in a light bulb?

Things have been crazy for a while. I'm blogging semi-non-professionally for the Sacramento Bee and while that's not really the main reason I've stopped blogging here, it's definitely a contributing factor. The other is child-rearing, child-fronting, pain, fatigue, writing for money and crafting for money. The last one has been getting me down lately as I found myself swimming in a sea of coasters with no end in sight. I never expected to them to become as popular as they did. I really couldn't keep up with the orders and I was experiencing some sort of arthritic pain as a result. So, I've called it quits from coasters (for a while at least) and will work on other crafty things for fun and for shows.

The child-rearing part is what keeps me busiest (and happiest, but also most stressed, but in a good way, you know?). Our kids just keep growing up and trying knew things to make us hair-pulling insomniacs. Our son has been pushing every boundary with school and his diabetes. He's even been lippy, which has never really been a problem before. However, he's not the only child acting out in this respect. Our Maddy's been in my face making sure I "Don't do that ever again, do you understand me?" which, apparently I said to her at least once before, but made quite an impression on her. She usually hits me or pinches me while she says this statement (which I can assure you, I have never done). It's just kids don't like to be told "No!" just like us adults.

Fortunately, not all of her verbal experimentation this bold and brash. She also talks like a little lady. All formal like. In fact, a couple Sundays ago, before a trip to my husband's mother's house, she told her daddy, "Let's go, Father. It's time to go see your mother." I kid you not. She sometimes refers to my husband's mom as "Grandmother." But then again, she also calls her Nana, Non and Grandma. I might just teach her to call her Nana by her full name and see what kind of reaction she gets. Priceless!

I love you, Brown Bear!